Siemens Invests EUR42 Million in Extension of Its Gas Turbine Manufacturing Plant in Berlin
Siemens is further expanding production capacity at its gas turbine manufacturing plant in Berlin. The company today opened a further production facility in the Moabit district in the presence of Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg, Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, and Peter Löscher, President and CEO of Siemens AG. This expansion of production capacity will create 200 jobs. Almost one-third of the total investment of EUR42 million was channeled into the new production facility. In the future it will be possible to produce approximately 14,000 gas turbine blades and vanes there every year. Gas turbines are deployed in power plants around the globe for eco-friendly power generation.
"We are pleased that Siemens is sticking with the Berlin location and not only securing jobs but also creating new ones even in these turbulent times," said Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg at the opening ceremony in Berlin. Siemens is the major employer in the industrial sector in Berlin and also has its largest production facility worldwide located there.
Siemens manufacturing portfolio in Berlin includes the world's most powerful gas turbine, which generates sufficient electrical energy to supply half of Berlin's population with electricity. "Innovational drive is a guarantor for our leadership in technology. Impressive examples are the gas turbines 'Made in Berlin' for the world market," said Peter Löscher.
The new production facility, which measures more than 3000 square meters, bears the EU's "Green Building" label by virtue of its design. The building's energy consumption will be 25 percent lower than statutory requirements. This will enable annual carbon dioxide savings of 1775 metric tons - that is equivalent to the emissions from approximately 1000 mid-range automobilies clocking up 10,000 kilometers per year.
Turbines have been produced in the Peter Behrens building, a protected historic monument, at the Siemens manufacturing plant for 100 years. The gas turbine manufacturing plant in Berlin has a work force of approximately 2800 from 34 nations. It is the Siemens Energy Center of Competence for the production of innovative, high-efficiency and eco-friendly gas turbines with ratings up to 340 megawatts.
The blades and vanes produced in the new building are the most important components of a gas turbine. The efficiency of the entire power plant is dependent on their performance. The higher the efficiency, the lower the fuel consumption and the CO2 emissions with a simultaneous increase in output. A single turbine is fitted with approximately 2500 blades and vanes.
Gas turbines are an important feature of Siemens environmental portfolio, with which the company posted revenue totaling almost EUR19 billion in fiscal 2008. That is equivalent to around a quarter of the company's total revenue and makes Siemens the world's leading green infrastructure provider.
The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2008 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR22.6 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR33.4 billion and posted a profit of EUR1.4 billion. On September 30, 2008, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 83,500.
Further information is available at: http://www.siemens.com/energy.
Siemens AG
Corporate Communications and Government Affairs
Wittelsbacherplatz 2, 80333 Munich
Germany
Media Relations: Alfons Benzinger
Telephone: +49 9131 18-7034
E-mail: alfons.benzinger@siemens.com
Siemens AG
Energy Sector - Fossil Power Generation Division
Freyeslebenstr. 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
